Former Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne has been cut by his San Francisco 49ers American Football team.
The 49ers announced they had waived Hayne in order to make room for fellow but more experienced running back Kendall Gaskins, who was promoted from the team's practice squad to the active roster.
Running back Jarryd Hayne, #38 in his time with the San Francisco 49ers Photo: AFP
But Hayne's NFL dream may not be over - the Detroit Lions appear to be in pole position to sign the ex-Kangaroos, New South Wales and Parramatta Eels fullback.
A year ago when Hayne quit the NRL it seemed he would end up in Motor City with the Lions, but the 49ers swooped and guaranteed the former rugby league star $US100,000.
When a player is cut from a team, the NFL clubs with the worst records have first dibs.
The Lions have the equal-worst record this season with just one win and six losses so will likely get Hayne if they want him.
"If Detroit Lions are still interested, Jarryd Hayne just hit waivers," MLive.com, one of Michigan's leading news websites, trumpeted.
The Baltimore Ravens are the NFL's other bottom feeder, while the Tennessee Titans, after a bye, have a slightly better one-win, five-loss record.
Teams can submit a claim for Hayne over the next 24 hours. It will be announced on Monday, American time, if Hayne has been picked up by a team.
Jarryd Hayne on NFL duty with the San Francisco 49ers after their win over the Baltimore Ravens Photo: AFP
Hayne appeared to have no hard feelings towards the 49ers.
"Blessed for another test. Thanks for the love TW. Wish my guys all the best against the Rams. if nothing happens Ill be back on Tuesday," Hayne wrote on Twitter.
The shuffle comes after the 49ers' best running back Carlos Hyde was ruled out on Friday with a foot stress fracture.
According to sources, the 49ers are hoping the other 31 NFL teams all pass on Hayne and they can sign him to their practice squad.
Practice squad players train with the team but don't play games and don't get paid as much, but it's a situation the 49ers would use to continue to teach Hayne the NFL.
Another team expected to be keen on Hayne are the 49ers' arch rivals the Seattle Seahawks, who showed interest in Hayne a year ago.
Last week Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, one of the NFL's great innovators, was still bullish on Hayne.
"We had a lot of thoughts about how we were going to use him," Carroll said.
The Seahawks, with their middle of the pack three-win, four-loss record, will have to hope Hayne is bypassed by 13 other teams.
Other teams with poor records include the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers.
- AAP
